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Still no goals allowed
Argentina defeats Croatia 1-0; both advance
Posted: Thursday September 17, 1998 04:11 PM
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Ariel Ortega assisted on the game's only goal Mark Thompson/Allsport |
BORDEAUX, France (CNN/SI)
-- This was an Argentine team that you wouldn't have recognized four years
ago. The country that used to rely on Diego Maradona's dazzle and its
amazing offensive firepower has transformed itself into a defensive
juggernaut, having reached the second round without yet allowing a
goal. Want to know how complete the transformation has been?
Even a defender scored the goal Friday that lifted Argentina
past Croatia
1-0.
After Ariel Ortega split Croatia's defense with a deep pass deflected
off libero Zvonimir Soldo, Hector Pineda connected in the 36th minute with
a left-footed drive from inside the penalty area.
With both teams already sure of second-round berths, the game decided
the winner of their qualifying group.
And Argentina had the edge in speed, punch and precision against
Croatia's aging stars, who rarely threatened Carlos Roa's goal. The South
Americans notched their third victory in three games and their defense
remained the only one not to concede a goal.
"This was a well-deserved victory against the toughest team in the
group," said Argentina's coach Daniel Passarella. "It wasn't easy, but our
game was more organized."
The best chance for the lackluster Croatians -- who are making their
World Cup debut -- came in the 63rd minute when substitute Goran Vlaovic
unleashed a 28-yard drive that crashed onto the post, with Roa well
beaten.
"They deserved victory and Argentina confirmed their big ambitions,"
said Croatia's coach Miroslav Blazevic. "But we come out of this with our
heads held high and hope we will have more luck next time."
Next time, though, Croatia will be deprived of key central defender
Zvonimir Soldo, who will be suspended after getting his second booking of
the tournament.
Argentina defeated Japan 1-0 and Jamaica 5-0 in
earlier games. Croatia beat Jamaica 3-1 and Japan 1-0.
For much of Friday's game, the teams locked horns in midfield.
Croatian star Davor Suker gave Argentina a quick scare in the second
minute with an arching header onto the top of Roa's net. Soon, though, the
Real Madrid striker was angrily berating his teammates for failing to set
up chances against a disciplined Argentine defense.
Argentina replied in the sixth minute with a free kick into the box
from playmaker Marcelo Gallardo, but Gabriel Batistuta got only a glancing
header on the ball.
But the first half remained agonizingly slow until the Argentines,
backed by some 10,000 fans in the sold-out 37,000 Parc Lescure, came to
life with Pineda's goal.
The Argentines quickly threatened again as star striker Batistuta
lunged for a header near the penalty spot and forced Croatian striker Mario
Stanic to clean up in his own area.
Croatian goalkeeper Drazen Ladic saved his side from going two goals
down seconds before halftime, tipping away a blast from Gallardo off a free
kick that bounced off the Croatian wall.
Just before, Soldo got a yellow card for a body check on Ortega.
Blazevic threw in Vlaovic as a fresh attacker after the break,
replacing disappointing midfielder Silvio Maric.
But Argentina remained more dangerous, especially after Claudio Lopez
came in for Ortega shortly after halftime. He added pressure with speedy
runs down the left side.
Gallardo left the Croatian defense flatfooted in the 71st, stalking
past several defenders to put a tightly angled shot just wide of the far
goalpost.
Substitute Diego Simeone was denied by Ladic's foot in the 77th after
Juan Veron duped Igor Stimac in the area and set up the shot.
Pushing for the tying goal, Suker remained luckless as time slipped
away, bouncing a header over the crossbar and drilling a shot into the
spectators from the edge of the area.
Even playmaker Zvonimir Boban, returning after sitting out the last
game with a pulled leg muscle, failed to make a difference for Croatia.
Veteran defender Igor Stimac, suffering from blistered feet, was the only
regular missing but came on as a substitute.
Passarella replaced AC Parma's Roberto Sensini, who has a pulled leg
muscle, with Nelson Vivas. He also rested Jose Chamot, who was facing the
threat of suspension because he already received a yellow card in an
earlier game.
Lineups
Argentina: Carlos Roa; Pablo Paz, Nelson Vivas, Roberto Ayala,
Javier Zanetti (68, Diegi Simeone), Hector Pineda; Juan Veron, Marcelo
Gallardo (81, Sergio Berti), Matias Almeyda; Ariel Ortega (53, Claudio
Lopez), Gabriel Batistuta.
Croatia: Drazen Ladic; Zvonimir Soldo, Robert Jarni, Dario
Simic, Slaven Bilic, Silvio Maric (46, Goran Vlaovic), Aljosa Asanovic,
Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki (68, Igr Stimac); Mario Stanic, Davor
Suker.
Referee: Said Belqola, Morocca.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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